Crutch



. y UNITED STATES' PATENT N omer. N

AnoLPrI scrIonNINeEn, or'cIIIcAGo, ILLINOIS.

cRuTcl-Li SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No.288,368, dated November 13, 1883,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, `AnoLrII ScHoENINGnR,

` of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of `This invention relatesto certain4 improve-I d ments in the construction of crutches, as will leo be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, `Figure l represents an elevation of a crutch constructed according to my'` the stal-f or standard a, I take a cylindrical` u piece, of some suitable wood or material usue, as shown. l d

y f represents thehandle orhand-rest, bywhich i the user grasps the crutch while in use. This ally employed in the construction of crutches,

into the customary shape, with outwardlycurved upper ends, '5, and bowed center c.

d 'y l Then to clamp thatportion of the staff where the split terminates, and conne the two members and prevent their further splitting apart,

I` encircle the lower split portions with a ring, d, which I attach to the stati' by wood-screws handle, according to my invention, is centrally bored or recessed, and has an iron zrod, g, passed therethrough, as shown in Fig. 2, the two ends of which rod extend beyond the ends ofthe handle f, and are passed through holes in the split members of the staff, to which they are bolted, y as shown. By this means it will be observed that the` handle and rod form a reliable brace, which holds the split portions of the statt` or standard apart -and rigidly in proper position.

` h represents `the `arm-rest,\whi`chv maybeshaped out of a solid piece of wood,or bent into the required form, orformed out of any other` Application filed January 5, 1883. (No model.)

suitable material. The upwardly-curved ends i of this armrest are rigidly attached to the outwardly-curved upper ends, b, ofI the statt' or standard a by bolts or other suitable connedtions, l, whereby a firm and rigid connec- 'tion ofthe arm-rest and staff is secured, and the split members of the staff are stillfurther braced and held rigidly in proper position without the possibility of their spreading outward or buckling inward.

m represents a ferr11le,wl1ich is provided at its upper `end with a socket, n, to receive the lower end or extremity of the staff c, and at its lower end with a screw-threaded socket, o, within which a rubber or other elastic plug, p, is screwed. Between the upper and lower ends of this ferrule I form, in said ferrule, interiorly, a shoulder, g, which serves as aseat for a washer, r, which is secured within said ferrule by a wood-screw, s, said screw passing within the lower extremity of the staff or standard a, as shown, and serving to connect the staff and ferrule together. This washer 'r also serves `as a bearing or rest against which the inner end of the `rubber or elastic plug p will rest and have bearing when screwed within the lower end of the ferrule.4

By my improvements I produce a light, cheap, and strong crutch, the several parts of which may be readily placed in position or taken apart when desired. Thewvhole of the parts are rigidly heldorbraced together and prevented from spreading or buckling out of d l position. Y

The staff c can be made as well of two separate bars of bent wood that by and between ring d and'ferrule m are secured against each other. r

By securing the armrest and the handle to the staff by bolts and nuts they can be readily` 'formed of a cylindrical piece, split and steam` bent or curved, substantially as described, and having outwardly-curved upper ends, b, the upwardly-curved and standard-bracing armresth, secured at each end to the upper ends der q, the Washer o", and Wood-screw s, and of the standard by bolts and nuts7 whereby elastic plugp, substantially as and for the pursad braces may be adjusted to the staff, subpose set forth. stantally as and for the purpose set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 5 2. The combination of ferrule m, having my inventonI afx my signature in presence 15 socket o and shoulder q, and the Washer r, and of two Witnesses.

Wood-Screw s, substantially as and for the purl ADOLPH SGHOENINGER. pose setforth. Vtnesses; y

' 3. The combination of the ferrule m, having LOUIS NOLTING,

1o soeketn, screw threaded socket o, and shoul- 1 R. G. SCHMIQJ 

